Who is my neighbor?/No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

California Court: Would Be Good Samaritan Can Be Sued

The term Good Samaritan comes from "from the parable told by Jesus in the Bible about a Samaritan (a man from a country called Samaria) who helps out a Jewish man who is ambushed by theives and left to die." "According to the story, a man asked "Who is my neighbor?" and the moral of the parable is that everyone is really your neighbor (meaning you should help anyone you see in need). "

What on earth is our world coming to when a Good Samaritan can be sued for trying to help someone in danger?

Let's take this a step further, what on earth is our world coming to when you sue a FRIEND for being a Good Samaritan and coming to your aid?

Whatever happened to being grateful that you're alive? Whatever happened to saying 'THANK YOU for saving my life"?

I realize completely that Ms. Van Horn is upset at having been paralyized by this terrible accident and probably wants to blame someone for her current condition, but to blame your friend? To blame your friend and then sue her?

What is this going to do for the future of Good Samaritanism? I don't know about you, but if I wrecked my car and myself and members of my family are trapped, I'm going to want help immediately to get out if there is a possibility of fire. Conversely, if I come upon a car wreck and smell gas, I'm going to want to help rescue those trapped if I can.

What is this world coming to? Do we all have to carry waivers with us wherever we go so that if we come upon a wreck and want to provide assistance that we require the victim to sign a waiver of liability that says they will not sue us if they become injured in some way because of our rescue efforts?

Who is my neighbor?

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